Montreal Foo Fighters fans get ready for group’s intimate show at Verdun Auditorium

There’s a buzz in Montreal’s Verdun borough, as superfans of the Foo Fighters are expected to gather to catch a glimpse of the band, hours before their highly anticipated show at an unlikely venue.

The Foo Fighters shocked fans when they tweeted late last month about adding a stop at the Verdun Auditorium, which has a capacity of 3,650 seats. Tickets went on sale the next day and sold out within minutes.

But this isn’t the first time Verdun has embraced lead singer Dave Grohl.

The auditorium welcomed Nirvana on Nov. 2, 1993 — the group’s last concert in Montreal before frontman Kurt Cobain died.

In preparation for the homecoming, Wellington Street was embellished over the weekend with a “Welcome back Foo Fighters” sign.

Fans will be treated to a show in an unusually intimate setting, considering the band is used to playing sold-out stadium shows and major events, including the Festival d’été de Québec on Saturday. 

This will be Yann Lachambre, 12, and his mother Dina Nikolakakis’s first concert together — 30 years after she saw Nirvana perform at the Verdun auditorium. 

“It’s a crazy thing to think about, but I’m very happy to share this moment with her,” said Lachambre whose favourite Foo Fighters song is “Everlong.” 

Nikolakakis said it felt nostalgic and special to be back at the auditorium to see Grohl take the stage. 

“We love Dave Grohl,” she said. “He’s so passionate, and we heard he’s one of the nicest guys in rock and roll, so we’re so happy to be able to see the show tonight.”

‘Once-in-a-lifetime’ opportunity, says opening act

Further pulling at Montrealers’ heartstrings, the American band hand-picked local, all-female, rock trio Les Shirley as its opening act.

Lead singer Raphaëlle Chouinard said the chance to open for the Foo Fighters is an honour and also feels like it “could be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

She added the band hasn’t fully processed that it can count the Foo Fighters among its fans.

Chouinard said that when bassist Sarah Dion first saw a message titled “Foo Fighters” addressed to the trio on music distribution platform Bandcamp, the musicians thought it was a scam.

But Chouinard insisted that they follow up in case there was even a “one per cent chance” that it was the real deal.

Her curiosity paid off.

“I remember talking on the phone and hardly believing this and shaking,” Chouinard said, describing a conversation with a member of the Foo Fighters’ management team.

“We’re just another rock band. Just another power trio,” she jested.

The local band is fresh off performing at festivals in Quebec City, Sherbrooke and Cowansville — shows the members consider to be career highlights in their young careers.

The band feels ready for what Chouinard calls a “larger-than-life” set with the Foo Fighters in Verdun on Monday.

“It’s like 30 minutes from our house,” she said. “It’s going to be an amazing day.”

The Foo Fighters will finish up the Canadian leg of their tour at Ottawa’s Bluesfest on July 12.